Five Days of Diwali

The most awaited festival Diwali is celebrated for five long days starting from the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month Kartik. The first day of the festival is Dhanteras and ends with Bhai Doj on the fifth day. The houses are lightened with diyas, decorated with beautiful flowers and rangolis are made to enrich the aesthetic of the festival. Special foods are prepared and precious moments are experienced and enjoyed with friends and family during the Diwali festival.

Day 1 : Dhanteras

Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali festival starting between October/November. Here, “Dhan” means the wealth and “teras” means the thirteenth lunar day of Kartik. It is auspicious to buy jewelry, gold, and utensils on this day. Buying new items on this day means adding new wealth and indicate good sign. So, it is good to purchase at least one precious metal on Dhanteras. People clean their homes and offices, decorate with flowers, make beautiful rangolidesign with colors, flowers and lighten diyas near Goddess Lakshmi to drive away evil shadows.

Day 2 : Naraka Chaturdasi

“Naraka” means hell and “Chaturdasi” means the fourteenth, combinely called Naraka Chaturdasi is the second day of Diwali, also known as Choti Diwali. The rituals performed on this day can avoid going to hell and liberate souls from suffering in Naraka (hell). Naraka Chaturdasi is commonly celebrated as Diwali in some regions of India including Tamil (Tamil Deepavali), Karnataka and Goa. On this day, a variety of sweets are prepared for the celebration.

Day 4 : Annakut / Govardhan Puja

The day after Diwali is Govardhan Puja ( Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar ) which is also celebrated as Annakut in some part. This day is celebrated as the day when God Krishna saved the farming community, their cowherd and defeating God Indra. A small cow dung mountain is built on this day. Annakut, simply means a mountain of foods. Hindu community prepares 56 or 108 kinds of dishes, offer it to Krishna and share among the community. And it is also the first day of Gujarat New Year

Day 5 : Bhai Dooj

Bhai Dooj falls on the second day after the new moon and is the last day of Diwali festival. The reason to celebrate Bhai Dooj relates to the legend of Yama and Lord Krishna. On this occasion, sister puts tilak on the forehead of brother praying for his long life and protecting him.